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Thompson impresses YSU football coaches
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Youngstown State’s Andrew Radakovich (72) watches as teammate Jordan Thompson (32) dives past Butler’s Taylor Clarkson for yardage in the first quarter of a game at Stambaugh Stadium. Thompson impressed the Penguin coaches to earn the position of backup running back this season. Radakovich will start at left tackle for the third consecutive year.
After sitting out most of the spring, Jordan Thompson is one of several players who has impressed YSU’s coaches
By Joe Scalzo
Youngstown
A few days ago, sophomore Jordan Thompson was elevated to Youngstown State’s second-string running back, which makes sense if you use your eyeballs (Thompson is what’s known as “all-airport,” because if you see him get off the plane, you think, “I want THAT guy on my team”) and doesn’t make sense if you know his story.
He was the fifth-string running back in the spring only because there wasn’t a sixth string. After falling behind in classes, Thompson watched the first few weeks of practice from the sideline — and when he did finally join the team, it was as a wide receiver.
“Honestly, this entire summer, I was ready to be a receiver,” said the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Thompson. “I lost about 10 pounds. I was completely converted.
“I was just trying to get a [receiver] spot on the outside.”
Then the third-string running back, Allen Jones, left the team. And the fourth-stringer, Torrian Pace, missed a couple practices. And the second-teamer, Adaris Bellamy (who just so happened to be the biggest-name recruit of Eric Wolford’s first season) rolled his ankle.
And Thompson was switched back to running back.
And he just kept getting better.
“A lot of people don’t realize, it’s not easy as a coach to put guys out there if you don’t trust them,” Wolford said. “That means going to class and doing things right all the time.
“I tell the guys all the time, the more we trust you, the more we’ll give you opportunities. Jordan’s earned it. He’s done well.”
YSU released its first depth chart on Monday and while Thompson’s spot wasn’t a surprise — Wolford announced his status after Saturday’s scrimmage — it was just the latest example of Wolford’s “no job is safe policy.”
Consider:
Only six of the starters from last year’s opener against Penn State remain atop the depth chart — although, in fairness, nine of the starters were seniors.
Only two of those returning starters are on defense (senior linebacker John Sasson and senior DT Andrew Johnson).
“That’s gonna happen,” said Wolford, whose defense ranked next-to-last in the conference in points allowed and yards allowed last season. “That’s the reason we signed so many guys [29] on defense. We’ve got to play better defense and I think we’re on our way.”
Only eight of the starters from last year’s season finale against Indiana State are still on the first team. (Seven of the departed starters were seniors.)
Eight of this year’s first-teamers have joined the team since January.
Two players that started at least five games — junior WR Juilian Harrell and senior LB Deonta Tate — are now on the third team, and three other such starters were moved to the second team.
“If you look at the big picture, we’re gonna do what’s best for the program,” Wolford said. “If things are even and you’ve got a guy that’s going to be around here three or four years and another guy that’s only going to be here for another year or two, he’s had his opportunity.
“If you’re gonna let someone come in and take your job, then that’s on you. You’ve got to live with it.”
Thompson was the third-string back last year behind Bellamy and Jamaine Cook (who was No. 1 then and is No. 1 now), rushing 36 times for 144 yards and four TDs as a true freshman. Thompson’s talent has always been obvious — he’s one of the team’s best pure athletes — but he said he’s learned the little things better, something he attributes, in part, to playing wide receiver.
“It helped a lot,” he said. “I understand who’s reaching who, what block’s going where, where the downblock’s going, who has the double team ...
“It makes everything easier. It makes cutting easier. I don’t have to get antsy. I can just be natural and comfortable.”
Thompson also improved his blocking — “Our coaches care a lot about protection,” he said — but the biggest improvement may have come off the field.
“I grew up a lot,” he said. “I sat out 95 percent of the spring, just sitting at study tables working on my grades and understanding what it takes to really be a student-athlete.
“I truly understand that now.”